    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book III)]
    [December 29, 2004]
    [Pages 3141-3144]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks on the Earthquake and Tsunamis in the Indian Ocean and an
    Exchange With Reporters in Crawford, Texas
    December 29, 2004

        The President. Good morning. Laura and I and
    the American people are shocked and we are saddened by the terrible loss
    of life from the recent earthquake and the tsunamis in the Indian Ocean.
    Our prayers go out to the people who have lost so much to this series of
    disasters. Our hearts are also with the Americans who have lost loved
    ones in this tragedy. Our Embassies are working with host governments to
    locate American citizens who are still missing and to assist those who
    have been injured or displaced.
        This morning I spoke with the leaders of India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and
    Indonesia. I expressed my
    condolences and our country's condolences. I told them of our support. I
    praised their steadfast leadership during these difficult time. We're
    grateful to the American and international organizations that are
    working courageously to save lives and to provide assistance, and I
    assured those leaders this is only the beginning of our help.
        We are committed to helping the affected countries in the difficult
    weeks and months that lie ahead. We pledged an initial $35 million in
    relief assistance. We have deployed disaster experts to the region. All
    leaders expressed their appreciation for the hard work of our
    Ambassadors and their embassy staffs to help the countries in need. As
    well we're dispatching a Marine expeditionary unit, the aircraft carrier
    Abraham Lincoln, and the maritime preposition squadron from Guam to the
    area to help with relief efforts.
        Secretary Powell is working hard. He has
    spoken with his counterparts in Japan,
    India, Australia, as well as other nations who are helping with the
    response, in order to begin building an international coalition for
    immediate humanitarian relief and long-term recovery and reconstruction
    efforts. Based on these discussions, we've established a regional core
    group with India, Japan, and Australia to help coordinate relief
    efforts. I'm confident more nations will join this core group in short
    order. Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman will lead a U.S. task force to work with these partners to
    help coordinate interagency response in our own Government and to
    encourage other nations to participate in the relief efforts.
        These past few days have brought loss and grief to the world that is
    beyond our comprehension. The United States will continue to stand with
    the affected governments as they care for the victims. We will stand
    with them as they start to rebuild their communities. And together the
    world will cope with their loss; we will prevail over this destruction.
        Let me answer some questions. Deb [Deb Riechmann, Associated Press].

    Iraqi Elections

        Q. Mr. President, more than 50 people died yesterday alone in the
    Sunni Triangle area. And with the Sunnis backing out of the election,
    how concerned are you that the world and the Iraqis will view this
    election as credible?
        The President. Well, you said ``with the Sunnis backing out''; you
    mean a Sunni party has backed out, yes. I talked to President Yawr yesterday, who happens to be a Sunni, who
    on the one hand expressed concern about the security situation in Mosul
    and on the other hand reminded me that most people in Iraq, Sunni or
    Shi'a, want to vote. And so the task at hand is to provide as much
    security as possible for the election officials as well as for the
    people inside cities like Mosul, to encourage them to express their
    will.

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        Now, Usama bin Laden issued a statement,
    as you know, which made the stakes of this pretty clear to me. His
    vision of the world is where people don't participate in democracy. His
    vision of the world is where people kill innocent lives in order to
    affect their behavior and affect their way of living. His vision of the
    world is one in which there is no freedom of expression, freedom of
    religion, and/or freedom of conscience. And that vision stands in stark
    contrast to the vision of, by far, the vast majority of Iraqis and
    leaders like Prime Minister Allawi and President
    Yawr, whose vision includes the
    freedom of expression, the freedom of the right to vote.
        And so the stakes are clear in this upcoming election. It's the
    difference between the ability for individuals to express themselves and
    the willingness of an individual to try and impose his dark vision on
    the world, on the people of Iraq and elsewhere. And it's very important
    that these elections proceed.
        We just got off a conference call with our acting--not ``acting''--
    Ambassador Negroponte is not in Baghdad,
    but Ambassador Jeffrey, his number two man,
    as well as General Casey, talking about
    how best to provide the security necessary for people to feel
    comfortable in voting.
        Yes, ma'am.

    United Nations/International Disaster Assistance

        Q. Mr. President, were you offended by the suggestion that rich
    nations have been stingy in the aid over the tsunami? And is this a sign
    of another rift with the U.N.?
        The President. Well, I felt like the person
    who made that statement was very misguided and ill-informed. The--take,
    for example, in the year 2004, our Government provided $2.4 billion in
    food, in cash, in humanitarian relief to cover the disasters for last
    year. That's $2.4 billion. That's 40 percent of all the relief aid given
    in the world last year, was provided by the United States Government.
    No, we're a very generous, kindhearted nation.
        You know, the--what you're beginning to see is a typical response
    from America. First of all, we provide immediate cash relief, to the
    tune of about $35 million.* And then there will be an assessment of the
    damage, so that the relief is--the next tranche of relief will be spent
    wisely. That's what's happening now. I just got off the phone with the
    President of Sri Lanka.
    She asked for help to assess the damage. In other words, not only did
    they want immediate help, but they wanted help to assess damage so that
    we can better direct resources. And so our Government is fully prepared
    to continue to provide assistance and help.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        *White House correction.
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        It takes money, by the way, to move a expeditionary force into the
    region. In other words, we're diverting assets, which is part of our
    overall aid package. We'll continue to provide assets. Plus, the
    American people will be very generous, themselves. I mean, the 2.4
    billion was public money--of course, provided by the taxpayers--but
    there's also a lot of individual giving in America. In this case, I
    think it's very important for Americans who want to give to provide cash
    to organizations that will be able to focus resources and assets to meet
    specific needs. In other words, a lot of times Americans, in their
    desire to help, will send blankets or clothes. That may be necessary,
    but to me it makes more sense to send cash to organizations that could
    then use that cash to make sure we match resources with specific needs
    on the ground. There are many NGOs now involved that understand what is
    specifically needed to meet the needs of these countries.
        This has been a terrible disaster. I mean, it's just beyond our
    comprehension to think about how many lives have been lost. I know that
    our fellow citizens are particularly troubled to learn that many of the

    [[Page 3143]]

    deaths were young children, and we grieve for their families, their moms
    and dads who are just, you know, heartsick during this--during these
    times.
        Yes, Holly [Holly Rosenkrantz, Bloomberg News].

    Debt Moratorium for Somalia and Indonesia

        Q. Sir, Schroeder this morning said that the Paris Club nations
    should put a moratorium on the debt of Somalia and Indonesia. Is that
    something that people think the U.S. and other Paris Club nations should
    do, put a moratorium on these countries' debt?
        The President. Well, we'll look at all requests. Right now we're
    assessing the short-term needs. We are--there are two issues that are
    involved, obviously, in these disasters: One, what can we do immediately
    to help; and then, what needs to happen in the long term to help these
    countries rebuild? And we're still at the stage of immediate help. But
    slowly but surely, the size of the problem will become known,
    particularly when it comes to rebuilding infrastructure and community,
    to help these affected parts of the world get back up on their feet.

    Tsunami Early Warning Systems

        Q. Mr. President, are you confident that the U.S. west coast
    residents, Hawaiian residents, Alaska residents, are well enough
    protected with early warning systems for possible tsunamis affecting
    this country in coastal waters?
        The President. No, I appreciate that question. It's a--I think that
    part of the long-term strategy in how to deal with natural disaster is
    to make sure we have--``we,'' the world, has a proper tsunami warning
    system. As a matter of fact, the President of Sri Lanka also mentioned that to me. She said
    that one of the things that she and the Prime Minister of India have discussed--I'm not sure if they discussed it,
    but they're both thinking the same way, let me put it to you that way--
    is the development of a proper warning system. And I think it's going to
    be very--I can't answer your question specifically, do we have enough of
    a warning system for the west coast. I am going to--I am now asking that
    to our agencies in Government, to let us know. I mean, that's a very
    legitimate question. Clearly, there wasn't a proper warning system in
    place for that part of the world, and it seems like to me it makes sense
    for the world to come together to develop a warning system that will
    help all nations.
        Q. And seeing that as we have, does it concern you that we may not
    have that mechanism in place? Or is this something we can use through
    our civil defense air raid siren system?
        The President. Yes, I just have to look into it. That's a very
    legitimate question. I am on the--I presume that we are in pretty good
    shape. I think our location in the world is such that we may be less
    vulnerable than other parts, but I am not a geologist, as you know. But
    I think it's a very legitimate question.
        I've so far focused on the international approach towards tsunami
    warning systems, and it seems like to me it's a--it makes sense for
    governments to come together and figure out how best to provide a
    warning system that will help all nations be prepared for such a
    disaster. Obviously, such a warning system was not in place.
        Yes, Richard [Richard Benedetto, USA Today].

    Armored Humvees for U.S. Troops

        Q. Mr. President, there continues to be criticism of the speed with
    which American troops are being armed in Iraq. Are you satisfied with
    the way the----
        The President. In which the Iraqi troops are being armed?
        Q. No, the U.S. troops.
        The President. Oh, I beg your pardon.

    [[Page 3144]]

        Q. Are you satisfied with the pace with which the U.S. troops are
    being armed in Iraq?
        The President. Are you talking about the armored vehicle issue, for
    example?
        Q. That and others.
        The President. Well, I have looked at the statistics on that, and we
    have stepped up the production of armored Humvees significantly. And the
    other issue is the rearmament of existing--of vehicles that are now in
    theater, vehicles that require a different armament structure than that
    which they initially were manufactured with. And I am told that those
    vehicles will be armed up by mid-summer of 2005. And what I know is, is
    that the Defense Department is working expeditiously with private
    contractors and with our military to get these vehicles armed up.
        Well, listen, thank you all for coming by. I'm sorry to disrupt your
    day, but I felt like it was important to talk about what is going to be
    one of the major natural disasters in world history. And it's important
    for the world to know that our Government is focused and will continue
    to respond to help those who suffer.
        Thank you.

    New Year's Eve

        Q. Any plans for New Year's Eve?
        The President. Early to bed.
        Q. New Year's resolutions?
        The President. I'll let you know. Already gave you a hint on one,
    which is my waistline. I'm trying to set an example.
        Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 8:38 a.m. at the Bush Ranch. In his
    remarks, he referred to President Ghazi al-Ujayl al-Yawr and Prime
    Minister Ayad Allawi of the Iraqi Interim Government; Usama bin Laden,
    leader of the Al Qaida terrorist organization; U.S. Ambassador to Iraq
    John D. Negroponte; Deputy Chief of Mission James Franklin Jeffrey, U.S.
    Embassy Baghdad, Iraq; Gen. George W. Casey, Jr. USA, commanding
    general, Multi-National Force--Iraq; President Chandrika Bandaranaike
    Kumaratunga of Sri Lanka; and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India. A
    reporter referred to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany. A portion
    of these remarks could not be verified because the tape was incomplete.
    The related proclamation of January 1, 2005, honoring the memory of the
    victims of the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis, was published in
    the Federal Register at 70 FR 1157.